AI Ethics & Responsibility
As pioneers in AI solutions for the legal industry, we recognize the profound responsibility that comes with deploying artificial intelligence in a profession built on trust, confidentiality, and the pursuit of justice.
The legal profession operates under some of the most stringent ethical obligations of any industry. When we introduce artificial intelligence into this environment, we must ensure that technology enhances—never compromises—these fundamental principles. This document outlines our comprehensive approach to AI ethics, our commitments to the legal community, and the safeguards we implement to protect attorneys, their clients, and the integrity of the justice system.
Our Core Ethical Principles
The foundational values that guide every AI solution we develop
Transparency
We believe attorneys must understand how our AI reaches its conclusions. Our systems provide clear explanations, confidence levels, and reasoning paths so legal professionals can make informed decisions.
Confidentiality
Attorney-client privilege is sacred. Our systems are built with privacy-by-design principles, ensuring client data remains protected and never used to train models or shared with third parties.
Human Oversight
AI augments, never replaces, legal judgment. Our systems are designed to keep attorneys in control, providing recommendations that support—not supplant—professional decision-making.
Fairness & Equity
We actively test and monitor our models to identify and mitigate potential biases. AI should expand access to justice, not perpetuate or amplify existing inequities in the legal system.
Security
We implement enterprise-grade security measures including encryption, access controls, audit trails, and regular security assessments to protect sensitive legal data.
Accountability
We take responsibility for our AI systems' outputs and maintain clear chains of accountability. When issues arise, we address them promptly and transparently.
Alignment with Legal Professional Responsibility
Our AI solutions are designed to help attorneys fulfill, not compromise, their professional obligations under the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and state bar regulations.
Competence & Supervision (Rule 1.1)
The duty of competence extends to understanding the technologies attorneys employ. We support this obligation by:
- Providing comprehensive training on how our AI systems work, their capabilities, and their limitations
- Documenting AI processes so attorneys can explain and defend their use of technology
- Offering ongoing education as AI capabilities evolve and legal tech landscapes change
- Building intuitive interfaces that make AI supervision practical and effective
Confidentiality & Data Protection (Rule 1.6)
Protecting client information is non-negotiable. Our comprehensive data protection framework includes:
- End-to-end encryption for all data in transit and at rest
- Zero-retention policies where client data is processed but never stored for model training
- Isolated processing environments ensuring complete data segregation between clients
- SOC 2 Type II compliance and regular third-party security audits
- Data residency options for firms with specific jurisdictional requirements
- Comprehensive audit trails documenting all AI interactions with client data
Communication & Client Consent (Rule 1.4)
Attorneys must keep clients informed about significant matters. We facilitate this through:
- Clear disclosure templates for client engagement letters regarding AI use
- Explainable AI outputs that attorneys can communicate to clients in plain language
- Documentation tools for recording client consent to AI-assisted services
Supervision of Non-Lawyer Assistance (Rules 5.1, 5.3)
AI systems are tools that require appropriate supervision. We enable proper oversight through:
- Human-in-the-loop design requiring attorney review before any AI output is finalized
- Confidence scoring that flags outputs requiring closer scrutiny
- Approval workflows ensuring appropriate levels of review for different tasks
- Quality assurance dashboards for monitoring AI performance over time
Understanding AI Limitations
We are transparent about what AI can and cannot do. Honest acknowledgment of limitations is essential for responsible deployment in legal practice.
What AI Cannot Replace
Our AI systems are powerful tools, but they have inherent limitations:
- Legal judgment: AI cannot exercise the professional judgment required for legal advice
- Ethical reasoning: Complex ethical dilemmas require human moral reasoning
- Client relationships: The attorney-client relationship is fundamentally human
- Courtroom advocacy: Persuasion, cross-examination, and oral advocacy require human skills
- Novel legal questions: Unprecedented issues may not be well-served by pattern-based AI
- Emotional intelligence: Understanding client needs often requires empathy AI cannot provide
Known Risks & Mitigations
Hallucinations & Inaccuracies
AI systems can generate plausible-sounding but incorrect information. We mitigate this through:
- Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) grounding outputs in verified sources
- Citation requirements with links to original source materials
- Confidence indicators flagging uncertain outputs
- Mandatory human review before any client-facing use
Bias & Discrimination
AI can reflect or amplify biases present in training data. Our approach includes:
- Regular bias audits across demographic categories
- Diverse testing scenarios during development
- Ongoing monitoring of outputs for discriminatory patterns
- Clear escalation procedures when bias is detected
- Commitment to continuous improvement based on findings
Outdated Information
Law evolves constantly. We address this through:
- Regular updates to legal databases and knowledge bases
- Clear dating of all referenced materials
- Warnings when information may be outdated
- Integration with real-time legal research platforms where appropriate
Ethical Guidelines by Use Case
Document Review & Analysis
- AI assists with initial review; attorneys make final privilege determinations
- All AI-flagged documents must be human-verified before production
- Clear documentation of AI assistance for discovery compliance
Client Intake & Communication
- AI chatbots clearly identify themselves as automated systems
- No legal advice is provided through automated channels
- Clear pathways to human attorneys for substantive questions
- Immediate attorney notification for time-sensitive matters
Legal Research
- All citations must be verified before use in legal documents
- AI suggestions are starting points, not final research products
- Attorneys remain responsible for thorough legal analysis
Contract Review & Drafting
- AI-generated language requires attorney review and customization
- Risk assessments are recommendations, not definitive evaluations
- Final contract terms reflect attorney judgment, not AI outputs alone
Our Ongoing Commitments
Ethics is not a destination but a continuous journey. We commit to evolving our practices as technology advances and understanding deepens.
Continuous Improvement
- Regular ethics reviews: Quarterly assessments of our AI systems and practices
- Stakeholder feedback: Active solicitation of input from attorneys, bar associations, and clients
- Industry collaboration: Participation in legal tech ethics initiatives and standards development
- Regulatory monitoring: Staying current with evolving AI governance frameworks
- Incident response: Transparent handling of any ethical concerns that arise
Access to Justice
We believe AI has the potential to expand access to legal services for underserved populations. We commit to:
- Developing tools that help attorneys serve more clients efficiently
- Supporting pro bono initiatives with appropriate technology access
- Ensuring our solutions don't create new barriers to legal representation
- Advocating for responsible AI policies that benefit all participants in the legal system
Regulatory Compliance
We maintain compliance with all applicable regulations and standards:
- ABA Model Rules: All solutions designed to support professional responsibility obligations
- State Bar Regulations: Awareness of jurisdiction-specific requirements
- Data Protection Laws: GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy regulations
- Industry Standards: ISO 27001, SOC 2, and legal industry security standards
- Emerging AI Regulations: Proactive compliance with developing AI governance frameworks
Questions & Concerns
We welcome dialogue about our AI ethics practices. If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions regarding our ethical commitments, please contact us:
Last Updated: January 2026. This document is reviewed and updated quarterly to reflect evolving best practices and regulatory requirements.